Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016 discussion
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Mr. Bennet's Library 101+ Books
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I just read you guys' conversation. What a hoot!
But look at you knocking out so many. Nicely done.
Debbie, thanks for the link to Fitness Pal. Exercise is something I'm really struggling with right now, cos of my back problem. Yes, even THAT form of exercise! (Grinning all over my face when I read those last few posts. Good job DH is doing jobs outside.) Walking is OK if I'm on a level surface but even a slight trip on an uneven one really jars, as I found out this morning when we went out for a walk in the countryside with our dogs. Maybe I'll have to wash more dishes instead of letting the machine do it!
Debbie, I didn't realize we could add unpublished stories to our list. I have read both of the stories you listed (Fragments and Bruises) but did not list them. I do plan to buy Side by Side, Apart when it is published as I do believe we need to support the authors. I have read many more on forum and when they are published I do buy them but there are many not published. Lucy S. is one whose works I love but are not published. Whereas, Brenda Webb publishes her. BTW: I also will give both of those stories 5 stars.
Sheila wrote: "Debbie, I didn't realize we could add unpublished stories to our list. I have read both of the stories you listed (Fragments and Bruises) but did not list them. I do plan to buy Side by Side, Apart..."I didn't really think about it one way or the other. They're no shorter than anything else I've read and they're certainly JAFF, so it never occurred to me that they might not qualify.
What sites do you guys use for JAFF? I've barely touched the surface in the non-published market.
https://www.fanfiction.net/http://blog.darcyandlizzy.com/
http://www.austenunderground.com/
http://www.meryton.com/
I am sure that there are many more and if you so desired there are enough stories on these sites that you will never find a end in sight.
Sheila wrote: "I am sure that there are many more and if you so desired there are enough stories on these sites that you will never find a end in sight."Thanks! I'm a fanfiction.net afficianado (for things other than JAFF), but I hadn't explored the others much. These will be useful when I've out-stripped my book budget, since I'm getting close to blowing through everything on my wish list that's free through kindle unlimited.
There are some very long ones on those. I or others could send you links, if you so desire, to our favorites. Or you could just explore. The Course of True Love is one I am still reading. And there is Keeping Calm which I have not yet finished. Those are just the ones I am now reading but there are many more.
Eliza, If you register on A Happy Assembly I'd recommend a story called 'Thaw' by Boogima, which is adorable. Also as you don't mind sex scenes I'd recommend Lucy S's stories, as Sheila has mentioned, and also the ones by JulieCoop and Amy (Amy writes under the username Alex and then some numbers, but I don't remember what it is exactly). None of these are published stories but they are so good :)
Eliza, If you register on A Happy Assembly I'd recommend a story called 'Thaw' by Boogima, which is adorable. Also as you don't mind sex scenes I'd recommend Lucy S's stories, as Sheila has mentioned, and also the ones by JulieCoop and Amy (Amy writes under the username Alex and then some numbers, but I don't remember what it is exactly). None of these are published stories but they are so good :)
Anji wrote: "Debbie, thanks for the link to Fitness Pal. Exercise is something I'm really struggling with right now, cos of my back problem. Yes, even THAT form of exercise! (Grinning all over my face when I re..."I'm not as diligent as I used to be using MFP (My Fitness Pal) because I'm at a healthy weight now and I'm mostly tring to maintain rather than lose. When I see my weight creeping up, I start using that website regularly until I'm back where I want to be. It includes calorie counts for meals at restaurant chains as well as specific grocery products, and you can add your own recipes and it will calculate the calories for you. Plus it takes into account whatever exercise you do (when you go through their list, it's pretty comprehensive) and gives you "extra" calories over and above your baseline target, so it really encourages you to stay active. There's an app you can load onto a smart phone, which makes it convenient. And, like GR and FB, you make "friends" who see and comment on your progress to help cheer you on and keep you accountable, depending on your privacy settings. Feel free to "friend" me there. My MFP name is divadeb with the same profile pic as on GR.
I read Sketching Character: A Jane Austen Inspired Novel today. It probably has my favorite Lydia storyline in it. I will be reading this one again. Really liked it a lot.
Just finished A Respectable Man: A Pride and Prejudice Variation. I liked it but I am on the fence as to whether to recommend it. A lot of JAFF books are in need of editing, so I never really think of that any more. I liked the Collins realism. I didn't have a problem with Darcy seemingly out of the blue loving Elizabeth. It was for me more a story of Elizabeth and her sisters than a Darcy and Elizabeth story. I enjoyed it. A lot of JAFF, could be much better if the authors would spend more time with their stories so with such a book, I am forgiving as long as the story is different enough to keep my interest which this one did.
Okay so here's my Feb TBR tally: I've read 13 this month.1. Compulsively Mr Darcy - 4 star
2. Pride and Prejudice: ...and Kids - 4 star
3. A Little Whimsical in His Civilities - 4 star
4. An Heir for Pemberley - 4 star
5. Missing Conversations - 3 star
6. One More Chance - 4 star
7. When Mary Met the Colonel - 5 star
8. A Death at Rosings - 5 star
9. The Carriage Ride - 3 star
10. Pride in Meryton - 5 star
11. The Companion's Secret - 5 star
12. Pemberley Quaking - 5 star
13. Heiress to Longbourn - 3 star
I wrote reviews for all of them and they are all posted on my YTD Challenge Tracker feed.
My YTD tally is 20.
You're on a great pace, Erika. Breaking 100 should be easy for you at this rate.
Thanks Debbie, I plan to do more, but as I said before, too many ARC books. I am gonna slow that down after these next couple I have to finish!!! Ugh!!
Mod
Now, I'm curious! I have this one on my list of reads so I look forward to meeting her Lydia.
Mod
1. Compulsively Mr Darcy - 4 star
2. Pride and Prejudice: ...and Kids - 4 star
3. A Little Whimsical in His Civilities - 4 star
4. An Heir ..."
Nice slice in the TBR pile, Erika! Looks like they were pretty good, too. The P&P...and Kids looks cute.
Sophia, it was cute, just wish it was expanded a little more.
Mod
I am on my 94th book of the year (can't believe I have read that many already) - of these, 32 ( https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... ) are for this challenge so I am still on target. Hoping to read more minor character stories in March.
Wow, do you eat...sleep...go out at all...LOL....just teasing. But I am so impressed! I have read about half that number but only posted the first 20. I plan to post the second 20 soon.
Mod
Sheila wrote: "There are some very long ones on those. I or others could send you links, if you so desire, to our favorites. Or you could just explore. The Course of True Love is one I am still reading. And there..."I would love some links, Sheila. It's a little overwhelming to jump in without knowing where to start. Though I'm gonna give it a go anyway, haha.
Ceri wrote: "Eliza, If you register on A Happy Assembly I'd recommend a story called 'Thaw' by Boogima, which is adorable. Also as you don't mind sex scenes I'd recommend Lucy S's stories, as Sheila has mention..."
Thank you very much for the recommendations! I went through and bookmarked some, and now that I've finally figured out where to find the completed stories, I imagine I'll find quite a few there I want to read. :-)
And !!!!! I only just find this rec site (http://www.jaffrecs.com/), and I'm super excited to check some of the tags. Gotta love someone who's done my work for me and and labeled them. "More Firm Bingley" and "Arranged Marriage"? Yes please!
1.) A Promise Kept by Brenda Webb – unfinished http://forum.darcyandlizzy.com/index....2.) A Rush of Blackbirds by: 4giveMeJane
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5768833/...
3.) A Touch of Night by Sarah Hoyt & Sofie http://www.dwiggie.com/derby/old_2008...
4.) Constant as the Sun by Diana J. Oaks (sequel to One Thread Pulled) http://forum.darcyandlizzy.com/index....
5.) His Choice of a Wife by Dolly
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show...
6.) The Officious Interference of Mr. Darcy by Alex9903
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show...
I don't have the link to Thaw off hand but this are good ones.
Sheila wrote: "1.) A Promise Kept by Brenda Webb – unfinished http://forum.darcyandlizzy.com/index....2.) A Rush of Blackbirds by: 4giveMeJane
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5768833/..."
Thank you! I found Thaw, so no worries. I just spent the last half hour bookmarking about two dozen stories. Adding these to my list. And here I was afraid I might run out of free stuff to read, haha.
and for this level challenge I have read:21.) Obsession 5
22.) The Darcys & the Bingleys: A Tale of Two Gentlemen's Marriages to Two Most Devoted Sisters 4
23.) Mr. Darcy's Persistent Pursuit: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 3.5
24.) One False Step: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 3.5
25.) A Searing Acquaintance 4
26.) Pride & Prejudice & Assassinations 3.5
27.) Darcy's Days 4.5
28.) Counterpointe 3
29.) Entanglements of Honor: A Pride & Prejudice Variation 4.5
30.) A Darker Darcy 4
31.) To Please A Princess 4
32.) A Touch of Night4
33.) The Scandalous Stepmother: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Novella 3.5
34.) Mr. Darcy's Obsession (second read through in full) 5
35.) Bruises (to be released as Side by Side, Apart) 5
36.) The Best Part of Love (unpublished)
37.) Thaw (unpublished)
38.) Fragments (unpublished)5
39.) The Improvement of Her Mind (unpublished) 5
40.) To Conquer Mr. Darcy (second read through in full) 5
41.) A Dache of Hope 4.5
I think you are impressive in your own right. But thank you for your compliment.
Very nice list, Sheila! I think Mr. Darcy's Obsession is going to be my next Abigail Reynolds. Almost all of my friends or follows have given it 5 stars. Also, I'm quickly finding that I love her books more often than not. :-)
http://www.meryton.com/ellenspdf/Impr... The Improvement of her Mind by Ayden
This story is 10 stars!...you will not read more beautiful language in any book. Beau North mentioned it on a podcast and then Claudine and I searched for it. Jen Red on AHA sent me the link.
It is not too long. I read it in one evening but it took my breath away with the lovely language. It is a year after Darcy settles the Lydia affair. He did not return to Longbourn to propose. The author then develops her own twist in such an interesting way.
Eliza wrote: "Very nice list, Sheila! I think Mr. Darcy's Obsession is going to be my next Abigail Reynolds. Almost all of my friends or follows have given it 5 stars. Also, I'm quickly finding th..."I have all her books in paperback as I didn't have a kindle at the time most of them were published. Now I have to buy them in paperback so my set is complete. Some have MA scenes but she develops them so naturally, using their love and passionate natures in playing out her scenes that it is just part of the story in my mind.
Mr Darcy's Obsession was the first JAFF I read that really blew me away, it was just SO good. No sex scenes in this one either so it's safe to recommend it to everybody. My favourite Abigail Reynolds scene is in this book... sigh!
Which scene? There are several of her books which have favorite scenes for me and then Kara Louise's Pemberley Promise when Jane talks about Elizabeth's Mr. Wright. But do tell. I loved when she ran to him as he drops in to the kitchen where breakfast is being prepared. But there are several others that could qualify.
Sheila wrote: "http://www.meryton.com/ellenspdf/Impr... The Improvement of her Mind by Ayden
This story is 10 stars!...you will not read more beautiful language in any book. Beau North mentioned it on a..."
I can't log into meryton for some reason. Do you happen to have this as a word file so I can send it to my kindle?
Sheila wrote: "Which scene? There are several of her books which have favorite scenes for me and then Kara Louise's Pemberley Promise when Jane talks about Elizabeth's Mr. Wright. But do tell. I loved when she ra..."Sheila wrote: "Which scene? There are several of her books which have favorite scenes for me and then Kara Louise's Pemberley Promise when Jane talks about Elizabeth's Mr. Wright. But do tell. I loved when she ra..."
Love this one, too.
I finished Darcy and Elizabeth: Timeless: A Pride and Prejudice Variation. I loved the story with the secret twist. This one is a keeper.
Talia wrote: "Sheila wrote: "http://www.meryton.com/ellenspdf/Impr... The Improvement of her Mind by Ayden
This story is 10 stars!...you will not read more beautiful language in any book. Beau North me..."
Give me you e-mail address and I will attempt to get it to you.
http://www.meryton.com/ellenspdf/Impr...
Login: JaneAusten
Password: Love2Read!
Sheila wrote: "http://www.meryton.com/ellenspdf/Impr... The Improvement of her Mind by Ayden
This story is 10 stars!...you will not read more beautiful language in any book. Beau North mentioned it on a..."
Grabbing it!
Talia wrote: "I finished Darcy and Elizabeth: Timeless: A Pride and Prejudice Variation. I loved the story with the secret twist. This one is a keeper."
Hmm...this sounds just odd enough that I might like it, hehe.
I've broken the 50 mark! :-) And thank you to those who recommended Thaw. The epistolary format isn't my favorite, but overall I really enjoyed the story.46. Bluebells in the Mourning - 4 stars (Re-read)
47. Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - 4 stars (Re-read)
48. Suddenly Mrs. Darcy - 4 stars (Re-read)
49. The Inconsistency of Caroline Bingley - 2 stars
50. Heiress to Longbourn - 3 stars
51. Falling for Mr. Darcy - 3 stars
52. Engaged to Mr Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Continuation - 3 stars
53. Alone with Mr. Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation - 5 stars
54. Thaw (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7318470/...) - 4 stars (Unpublished)
You ladies crack me up! I am still LOLing at that "proper Regency wife" comment. Thanks for all these unpublished links! My book budget has been sharply decreased this year to accommodate saving for a Disney vacation so I need to pace myself with my Amazon purchases :)
Since I only have one book update I will give a small review for it.
18. Solving for Ex - 3.5 Stars - This was free (thanks for the tip Ceri!) and it wasn't a bad YA novel. I did have a few quibbles. This is the first YA novel I have ever read that had pre-martial sex. I am not sure how common that is but, while tame, it seemed unnecessary to the plot, especially in a YA novel. I know how teenagers are and I sound like a prude but I wouldn't recommend it to my 16yo sister because of that. The hero and heroine were a bit annoying/frustrating/unlikeable sometimes as well. The writing was good and it was a modern retelling of Mansfield Park, which in my opinion is challenging in itself. The little math puzzles/notes were cute too.
I am currently reading A Pride and Prejudice: A Royal Disposition and will then re-read George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not for the group read :)
Shannon wrote: "Thanks for all these unpublished links! My book budget has been sharply decreased this year to accommodate saving for a Disney vacation so I need to pace myself with my Amazon purchases :)"There are few things that I find worthy of limiting the book budget...but this is one of them! :-)
Sense and Sensibility with Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson is on TCM tonight.
Sheila wrote: "Sense and Sensibility with Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson is on TCM tonight."Alan Rickman makes me *happy sigh* a lot in that movie.
Thanks to Claudine and Sheila for my #49!47. Anne de Bourgh Manages - 3 stars
48. A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories - 5 stars
49. http://www.meryton.com/ellenspdf/Impr...
The Improvement of her Mind by Ayden (unpublished) - 5 stars
50. In the Past Imperfect - 3.5 stars
Sophia, In the Past Imperfect, while it's one I found less than satisfying for the romantic in me, is really well written and would be excellent fodder for discussion as a group read. It's a modern story loosely based on Persuasion. The point of view it seems to me to express is that it's not possible to "have it all" (both career and love) and that true love doesn't really exist. Not a light read, but a thought-provoking one.
Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016
Books mentioned in this topic
North and South (other topics)My Pride, His Prejudice (other topics)
Dear Father Christmas: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (other topics)
From This Day Forward - The Darcys of Pemberley (other topics)
An Inconvenient Courtship (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Michele Paige Holmes (other topics)Penelope Hughes-Hallett (other topics)
Penelope Hughes-Hallett (other topics)
Juliet Archer (other topics)
Jane Odiwe (other topics)
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Back to JAFF! Adding to my Mr. Bennet list over the past several days:
43. Fragments - (unpublished, so you have to go to the web site to read it) - 5 stars
44. Side by Side, Apart (a.k.a. Bruises) by Ann Galvia (not yet published, due out this spring from Meryton Press) - 5 stars
45. Darcy's Royal Dilemma: Pride and Prejudice and Witches - 4 stars
46. The Inconsistency of Caroline Bingley - 3 stars